In 1968 Durham's county regiment, the Durham Light Infantry was absorbed into the then new Light Infantry Regiment. In 1975 a few members of the D.L.I. Regimental Association decided to form a 68th Society to keep alive the history and traditions of the old D.L.I. From this society was born the 68th D.L.I. Display Team, which has since taken on the active roll of demonstrating to the general public the drill as used by the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Light Infantry in the latter part of the Napoleonic Wars.

Loading the firelock. The soldiers here are biting open the cartridge preparatory to priming the musket; all the time the soldier is to look around and select another target.

Though originally intended as a drill display team rather than a re-enactment unit, the society after many successful years has evolved into one of the leading re-enactment and living history groups for its period in the U.K; a role its founder members probably never envisaged. Its success can be judged by the fact that between 1984 and 1993, over one hundred and fifty public appearances have been made by members of the team, ranging from small charity raising events to large scale battle re-enactments such as at Waterloo, Belgium in 1990. On this occasion the team fielded the largest single British contingent, being brigaded with the excellent Canadian units.

The Society is administered by an annually elected committee and has its own written constitution; a Statute which is flexible and constantly updated to take into account changing circumstances. The Society has always been independant, a fact in which its members take pride in, and though invited to take part in other society's events has preferred to maintain its individual status. However excellent relations are maintained with other societies, particularly those in Canada with whom the Display Team have much in common. In England the team has helped other societies with uniforms and equipment requirements, and has supplied directly or indirectly drill books for use by British re- enactors, whether it be for Line, Light, or Rifle units.

Between November and April the team meets regularly to collectively practice both light and line drill movements, and the manual of arms, in preparation for the coming seasons events. All these movements are taken from the manuals in the possession of the team. These include for the line : "Rules and Regulations for the formations, field excercise and movements" 1798 (Dundas); "Manual and Platoon excercise" 1804 and 1812 editions; "Rules and Regulations for the Manual and Platoon excercises, formations, field excercises and movements" 1807 and 1811 editions.

For the Light Infantry : "Light Infantry Excercise 1797"; "Regulations for the excercise of Riflemen and Light Infantry" 1803 and 1808 editions; "A course of Drill and Instruction in the Duties of Light Infantry" 1808 edition; "Instructions for Light Infantry and Riflemen" by Neil Campbell 1813; and finally "Drill and Manoeuvres as practised by the 52nd Light Infantry" by John Cross.

Indeed the Society has in its possession a fine collection of drill manuals for the period besides works by Barber, Cooper, etc, plus copies of unpublished manuals, notebooks and diaries. This collection gives an excellent view of the evolution of the Light Infantry drill and how the excesses of the 18th century drill gave way to the hard practicalities of the early 19th century drill.

Research is continually carried out by a Research Officer and assistant who are appointed by the society's committee. The research undertaken has led to a greater understanding of the period, and the development of the uniforms, equipment and drill. So much so that the team have become the prime movers in virtually all aspects of British Napoleonic re-enactment and acquired a reputation for authenticity and expertise.

New findings though often require the alteration of certain items or modes of behaviour. Unfortunately there are limitations on how quickly some corrections can be undertaken, with the usual delay being caused by lack of funds for purchasing the necessary materials, or trying to source the correct materials. The result often means that although the team know something is incorrect, it is forced to continue until time and money allow replacement to be undertaken.

Uniforms and equipment are all made within the unit as far as possible, though the society has sources of supply for those which are not. Patterns and details for uniforms and equipment being taken as far as possible from original examples or primary sources. The uniforms and equipment used by the team are loaned to most members free of charge, though some prefer to buy and own their own kit, all items used by the team being subsidized by the society's ability to earn money from events.

The team have also pioneered the use of Napoleonic period camping in the U.K., the street of Bell Tents, sutlers and cooking areas being a well known feature and crowd puller at all their principal displays. The team selected Bell Tents as being the only correct type of tentage to use. John Green the 68ths diarist refers to the issue of bell tents during the Vittoria campaign 1813 we returned to the green, and pitched our (bell) tents, each company had three tents, and a mule to carry them".

The national composition of the 68th between 1809 and 1813 was more varied when compared with that of todays team. The average national composition for the 68th consisted of 44% English, 44% Irish and 12% Scots, the total number of Durham men being approximately 25% by the time of the Walcheren expedition. However, one of the great strenghs of the present team is the fact that the bulk of the membership are "Geordies" from the North-East, members coming from the old D.L.I. recruiting grounds of Tyneside, Wearside, Teeside and Durham. This gives the team a unique family character which in turn gives rise to a great "esprit de corps".

There are many wives and girlfriends in the team who's support is acknowledged as being fundamental to the teams success, particularly their contribution in the period camp. Indeed it may be claimed that the ladies work harder than the men at most events, though none have yet emulated the wife of Sergeant Dunn by marrying for the sixth time. Despite, the Display team having a large membership, a full turnout of members at events is reliant on their goodwill, fiances, work and social situation. This makes 100% turnouts impossible at times. The philosophy of the team at any venue is to entertain, educate and enjoy themselves when the public are in attendance. In all their endeavours the team tries to live up to the motto of the proud Regiment they strive to emulate, "Faithful".

PLATOON EXCERCISE (FIRING POSITION)

One result of the research carried out by the Display Team was to discover that the mode of firing as practised by the 52nd Light Infantry was different from that ordered by the standard Dundas drill. As the 68th were to be trained along the same lines as the 52nd, it is assumed that this mode of firing was also adopted by them.

The new exercise allowed the soldier to select his target before, or during loading; and the subsequent movements of the firelock were designed so as not to restrict his view of the target up to the moment of firing. Starting from the assumption that the firelock is already loaded, the "Make ready" in the 1812 Manual and Platoon Excercise reads : "Bring the firelock to the Recover, by throwing it briskly from the shoulder, the guard to the front, and instantly cock as soon, as the left hand seizes the piece above the lock. . .".

For the 52nd, "On the word "Make Ready", both ranks fix their eyes on an object in front, bring down their firelocks to a horizontal position on the right side". So at this point the "Line" is standing with both hands holding the firelock in front of the face, whilst the "Light" are holding their firelocks at the right hip, staring at the intended "victim".

When the order "Present" is given, the 1812 Manual states, "slip the left hand along the sling as far as the swell of the firelock, bring the piece down to the "Present". For the 52nd, at the command "Present", "both ranks bring up their firelocks... each man slowly and independently levelling at the particular object his eye has fixed upon, and as soon as he has covered it, fires of his own accord". In the 1812 Manual, the men wait until ordered to fire.

When the word of command "Load" is given, the 1812 Manual requires the firelock be brought high-up on the right breast, muzzle pointing up, "to the peak of the cap", which places the butt, "into the hollow of the right side". However, the 52nd firelock, "will be brought down from the "present", to the position described for making ready" ie. horizontal at the right hip.

If the firing was to continue, then after the loading procedure; for the line the firelock was returned to the shoulder, thence to the Recover and so on. For the 52nd, the firelock stayed at the make-ready or horizontal position, from which it was a simple matter of raising the firelock back to the present, while the soldier looked around and selected another target.

This new mode of firing had been suggested as early as 1803, Sir John Moore writing that, "The 52nd find also upon trial, that the aim is more certain and takes more readily by coming, upon the word, "Make Ready", to the priming position, cocking and bringing the piece up to the present instead of recovering, cocking and bring down the piece to the present". Another Officer wrote that, "the reasons in favour of this mode of making ready are strong and obvious to any person who understands the principals of shooting.

The Recover is an unnatural and awkward position, and a more correct and steady aim can be taken by elevating the piece from the priming position ... than by bringing the piece to the Recover, which to a certain degree makes the firelock intercept the object in vision, before presenting, and not to search about for an object with the piece raised to the eye. To good sportsmen this will need no argument or explanation". This type of fire drill is practised within the 68th Display Team, along with other differences between Line Infantry and Light Infantry drill.

SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Various Regulation, Letter, Pattern and Order Books too numerous to list, found at the NA.M.London, U.S.M.Edinburgh, P.R.O.Kew and the Canadian Archives, Ottawa.
Various editions of the J.S.A.H.R. too numerous to list.
John Green,"Vissitudes of a Soldiers Life", Louth 1827.
Special Thanks to Robert Henderson, Paul Fortier, Sean Phillips, and Steve Shannon at the D.L.I.Museum.
Photographs by Paul Knight, unless otherwise credited.

68th (Durham) Regiment of Light Infantry 1814

Part 2: Additional Uniform Details
Part 2: Large Color Photo: Mounted Officer (slow: 75K)
Part 2: 68th D.L.I. Display Team (Re-enactment Group)

68th (Durham) Regiment of Light Infantry 1814

Part 1: Clothing and Necessities
Part 1: Uniform in Detail
Part 1: Jumbo Color Uniform Photos (monstrously slow: 1MB)